#able-bodied people

[antheminmyheart]

Able-bodied people: only allot like 3 handicap parking spaces or 1 elevator for people who can’t use stairs or 1 big bathroom stall for people with wheelchairs or who need assistance 

Also able-bodied people: *park in handicap spaces, use elevator, use big bathroom stall*

Also also able-bodied people: whadaya mean we can’t use it?? Whaddaya mean I gotta WAIT? D:<

[megsrefblog]

Ableist Language

Often times we speak without thinking. We use words that negatively others, but we don’t put the appropriate thought into what we’re saying before we speak to be able to understand how it can be hurtful. Phrases like “That’s retarded” or “I’m so OCD” are common phrases that are said thoughtlessly and often can be hurtful or offensive to others. People rarely say these with an intention of hurting those around them; they are plainly not educated enough to know otherwise. I’m hoping that through this article, I can raise awareness surrounding this issue and help avoid future offenses. “Deaf”, “crippled”, “depressed”, “dumb”, “Tourette’s”, “mental”. These are all examples of ableist words. Ableist language is used more often than you probably think. Most words like these have become wrongly accepted as regular vocabulary that you don’t think twice about. These words are tossed around very lightly, and yet can have a very heavy impact on someone else. It’s common for someone to become frustrated over the inappropriate use of ableist terms and can make a person feel belittled or invalidated. It’s important we understand what we’re saying, so we are careful not to hurt those around us. So what is ableism? The word ableism comes from the phrase able-bodied. The definition is “discrimination in favor of able-bodied people”. Able-bodied people are people who are not affected by any kind of mental or physical disorder or disability. The reason I’m bringing this up is because most people don’t realize they are being discriminative when they use simple words like “crazy”, “lame”, “blind”, “insane”, “dumb”. It’s important we educate others about these slurs so they are able to realize that what they are saying could potentially be hurtful. Who does ableism affect? Some words are more damaging than others. A word like “dumb” will probably have a lesser effect than a word like “retarded”, just because it’s more obvious that “retarded” is an ableist slur. But using this language can still affect other people mentally more than one might think. Ableism can be used by any age group and can affect any demographic. Even people who are disabled fall guilty of using ableist terms. Apart from those with physical handicaps, ableism affects those with mental disabilities and chronic illnesses, as well. Ableism can affect people suffering from illnesses like anxiety, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, depression, asthma, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism, anorexia, bulimia, diabetes, epilepsy, AIDS, schizophrenia, and so on. Though ableism can be, and most often is, accidental, this doesn’t make it okay. It does, however, make it forgivable. These words can be used to target others, and even though I am aware that most of these words are not intentionally used in an offensive manner, they can be interpreted that way. That’s why I’m hoping to educate you and others, so that if one of these words slips into your vocabulary, you are able to realize it and make an effort to change it. How does ableism affect those around us? Ableism can have effects on people who are not disabled as well as people who are. Imagine growing up with a physically handicapped sibling and hearing someone calling their friend a “retard” when they are acting ridiculous or silly. Wouldn’t this make you turn your head? Yes! Of course! You would’ve known what it was like to grow up with a loved one who is mentally disabled, and it would most likely make you agitated hearing the word tossed around in an inappropriate context. Ableist language also affects disabled people directly. For me to be able to make this point, I must first make it clear that though the first thing that comes to your mind when I say “disabled people” might be someone with autism or someone in a wheelchair, a disabled person is really any person who has a physical or mental impairment that limits them daily and affects their life. Something like diabetes and OCD; these are both examples of disabilities. I have obsessive compulsive disorder, and one thing that bothers me a lot is hearing the phrases “I’m so OCD about… “ or “My OCD hates… “. My disorder affects me very severely everyday in everything I do, and it makes me angry hearing people claim to have this disorder just because they like to “keep organized”. It’s not only invalidating the severity of my daily struggle, but is also stereotyping it. Whenever I hear someone use a phrase like this, I speak up and let the person know why using OCD as a comparison to, per se, keeping tidy, is incorrect. I also make an effort to give them some alternate phrases and words to use for future reference. I am only one example among many others who have been negatively affected by ableist language. I have talked to a couple of others to collect insight from them and hear their thoughts and experiences regarding this topic. One of my peers, who is a type one diabetic, spoke with me about their illness and what experiences they have had with ableist language. “I hear ableist language being used a lot. I could EASILY list a dozen bad diabetes ‘jokes’. Most of them are about fat people, or sugary foods, which stems from stereotypes about type two.” They stated. “This kind of language makes me feel very devalued; my life experience and existence shouldn’t be seen as a punchline.” Another person I had the pleasure of talking with is a teacher who had grown up in a household with disabled siblings. I think it is important to realize that one does not have to be disabled to feel the negative effects this language can have. “I am sensitive to words that negatively describe one’s intellectual abilities and physical disabilities.” She says. “I have a sister who has severe visual and hearing impairments as well as a brother, who has passed away, with severe intellectual and physical disabilities…. When I was younger, I always said I had a brother who is severely retarded, because that is how we described him. It was only when I heard other people misusing the word that I felt the need to choose a new one… this hurt me deeply… I make sure to speak up when I hear this language being used, especially if it is being used directly against someone. If I don’t speak up, I feel guilty. People must be aware.” You might think “how can these words be offensive if I’m using them in a different context than they were once originally intended?” “These words have taken on a new meaning!” “I can use them in this context!” Me personally, being someone who has a mental illness, I have heard ableist language being used that is not meant to be offensive or hurtful, but has made me very upset. An important thing to remember, is that it does not matter the intention of your words, but how they are being received. My hope is that you will recognize when you or someone else is using ableist language and speak up about it and perhaps try to educate them. Also that you may do your best to avoid these words/phrases yourself. We all have room to grow, so let’s grow together.

References http://isthisableism.tumblr.com/sluralternatives http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-cohenrottenberg/doing-social-justice-thou_b_5476271.htmL Two personal references were also used.

[furryalligator]

Able-bodied people should go to work, and we should have a system that helps them do that so that they can realize their potential.

Paul Ryan, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/27/paul-ryan-poverty_n_5625026.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013

[rad-fixer--archive-blog]

"I'm not in a position of power.  I don't have an advantage.  Actually, i have more of a disadvantage.  You have the advantage."

This is what my professor told me when i called out their ableism.

I can't wait to see my disability resource center counselor tomorrow.